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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mythusmage" data-source="post: 1270400" data-attributes="member: 571">(You can blame SHARK for this one.<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> BTW, I couldn't get through to ENWorld earlier, so I posted this over at the WotC 'Home Brew' forum first. You clogged up the pipes, you have only yourselves to blame.<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f61b.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue    :p"  data-smilie="7"data-shortname=":p" />)(Please note, this essay uses Dragon Earth classification, which doesn't always follow Ours.)The reptiles are divided into the following groups, the anapsids, the synapsids, and the diapsids. The anapsids are divided into the tuatra and the turtles; the synapsids into the pelycosaurs, the therapsids, and the monotremes; the diapsids into the snakes, lizards, thecodonts, dinosaurs, crocodiles, dragons, dragon turtles, sphinxes and lung. In this posting we'll be taking a look at the dragons and lung, with a side trip to consider the dragon turtle.DRAGONSDragonsDragons are divided into two families, dragons and wyrms. Each is made up for four genera, with the dragons having a total of fifteen species and the wyrms comprising nine.The most primitive of the dragons are the Woodland dragons. This genus has two species, the Black and the Green. Next we have the lighting dragons. So named for the type species, the Blue dragon. The other species in this genus are the Amethyst, Emerald, and Topaz dragons. The largest genus in terms of species is the Fire dragon. So called because so many of the species in this genus are able to 'breathe' fire or some variation of fire. The species include the Brass, Bronze, Copper, Gold, Red, Sapphire, and White dragons.Last we have the Noble dragons. Named for the rather 'haughty' attitude of the Silver dragon. (The scientist who named this genus did not get along with Silver dragons.) The companion species is the Crystal dragon.WyrmsThe Wyrms are dragons that have lost their wings and their ability to fly. Some say they are not true dragons. As with dragons they are divided into four genera.The Grassland wyrms has thee species; the Desert, Hill, and Plains wyrms.Next are the Wood wyrms: the Forest, Jungle, and Swamp wyrms.Then come the Ice wyrms. So called because of the Tundra wyrm species. The Mountain wyrm is found in this genus as well.Last is the Deep wyrm; which consists of one species, the Underdark Wyrm.Please note that some scientists put the Tundra wyrm in with the Desert and Plains wyrms, while the Mountain wyrm is placed in with the Hill wyrm. Association by topography if you would. However, morphological and genetic comparisons has lead to the present scheme.LUNGSThe lungs of the Orient are divided into three genera, totaling six species. the Yu lung was once considered a species, but now is recognized as a growth stage the lungs go through. The Lung Wang is now recognized as a species of Dragon Turtle, one that goes through a Yu lung like stage, which the Western Dragon Turtle does not.Special Note: The Yu ung properly refers to a stage of growth all true lung go through after being hatched. The Lung Wang goes through a stage right after hatching which resembles the Yu lung superfically, but which has notable differences. Such as a nascent shell which is discernable even in a newly hatched Lung Wang upon careful examination. Furthermore, there are discernable differences between the various lung species even in the Yu lung stage. A Pan Yu lung differs from a Li Yu lung for instance.The first lung genus is the Storm lung. So named for the type species, the Tun Mi lung. The other species is known as the Chiang lung.The Earth lung genus consists of on species, the Li lung. The Li Lung was once thought to be a dragon, thanks to its wings. But today it is recognized as a lung thanks to genetic testing, morphology, and the feather like scales peculiar to the lung. Besides which, it also goes through a Yu lung stage.The third genus is the Serpent lung. Named for the serpentine appearance of the group. The three species are the Pan, Shen, and the T'ien lungOf the six ung species only the Li lung has wings. Unlike dragons, which had wings early in their history, it would appear that the appearance of wings among the lung is a recent development. The ancestors of the Li lung gaining the extra set of limbs within the last 10 million years, which subsequently developed into the wings Li lungs display today. However, a tantalizing set of remains was recently discovered in the Gobi Desert of the Chinese Republic. The species has been identified as an ancestor of the Serpent lung. With hints of wings. Unfortunately for a positive identification the specimen was found mixed up with the remains of other animals, including a primitive sphinx. So the wings may actually belong to the sphinx. However, there are those who have identified the sphinx as being a a six legged species, ancestral to the modern winged sphinx. Again, remains are too fragmentary for a positive determination at this time. It should be noted that the wing girdle of this species of sphinx is further back than is usual among modern winged sphinxes, which, as with dragons and lungs, is effectively merged with the shoulder girdle.So there you have a brief look at dragons, lung, and a short glance at dragon turtles. If this gives you ideas, good. That's why I wrote it. Your thoughts?</blockquote>

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